Acaena buchananii

RHS Plant Profile
Buchanan’s bidibid

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Buchanan’s bidibid visionspictures.com
Buchanan’s bidibid visionspictures.com
Herbaceous Perennial
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This plant is listed as an invasive non-native species in Northern Ireland – see Cultivation section for details. A quick-growing, mat-forming, evergreen perennial with blue-green pinnate leaves. Clusters of white flowers on upright stems turn reddish with age

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming
Potentially harmful
Pets (dogs) - Burrs can irritate skin
Genus
Acaena can be evergreen perennials or subshrubs with pinnate leaves with dentate leaflets. Tiny flowers are carried in a dense rounded head or spike, followed by attractive burr-like fruiting heads
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
New Zealand

How to Grow

Cultivation

All species of Acaena are listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 as invasive non-native species. Although not banned from sale, it is an offence to plant or cause it to grow in the wild in Northern Ireland. See RHS advice on invasive non-native species for further information

Propagation

See cultivation notes

Pests

See cultivation notes

Diseases

See cultivation notes